By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Friday, the Board of Directors of the Business Council of Alabama announced that they have endorsed U.S. Sen. Luther Strange in the special primary election runoff for U.S. Senate.
BCA Chairman Jeff Coleman said in a statement, “The Business Council of Alabama is proud to endorse U.S. Sen. Luther Strange in his bid to continue to serve the people of Alabama in the United States Senate. Sen. Strange has built his reputation on being a tireless advocate for the growth and progress of the state of Alabama. The Business Council of Alabama believes Luther Strange has the experience and proven leadership needed in the halls of Congress.”
BCA Chairman Jeff Coleman is the president and chief executive officer of Coleman Worldwide Moving.
BCA First Vice Chairman Perry Hand said, “The Business Council of Alabama believes that U.S. Sen. Luther Strange is the right person to succeed Jeff Sessions in the United States Senate, with a proven track record of battling federal overreach along with his extensive background in business and economic development, Sen. Strange is who Alabama needs in Washington at this critical time.”
BCA First Vice Chairman Perry Hand is the chairman and chief executive officer of Volkert, Inc.
Strange was appointed to the United States Senate in February 2017 by then Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R).
Strange was appointed to serve on four committees: the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Armed Services; Budget; and Energy and Natural Resources.
BCA said that during his tenure as Alabama’s chief law enforcement official, Strange, “was a leader in opposing costly over regulation and overreach by the federal government.”
BCA added in their endorsement, “Before he was elected as attorney general, Strange was recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers” in Alabama by Birmingham Magazine, and his law firm, Strange LLC, has been named “One of the Top Ten Law Firms that Understand Economic Development” by Southern Business and Development Magazine. He was also recognized in Best Lawyers in America and named “Best of the Bar” by the Birmingham Business Journal.”
The Business Council of Alabama claims that it “is Alabama’s foremost voice for business.”
The BCA is Alabama’s exclusive affiliate to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
BCA’s role in Alabama politics has come under increasing scrutiny since BCA President and Chief Executive Officer William “Billy” Canary’s close ties to Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard were exposed during the disgraced speaker’s public corruption trial. While Hubbard was indicted for ethics violations in which Canary and other BCA officials were providing the speaker with extra benefits; BCA was never charged with anything. Hubbard was convicted on 12 of the 21 counts he was charged with.
Strange is a career Washington lobbyist who ran for Alabama lieutenant governor in 2006. He lost that race for former Governor Jim Folsom (D). In 2010, Luther challenged Republican incumbent AG Troy King in the GOP Primary. Strange prevailed there and won the general election in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014, defeating then state Representative Joe Hubbard, D-Montgomery.
Sen. Strange is running against former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (R). The Republican runoff is September 26.
The winner of the Republican runoff will face Birmingham attorney and Clinton era U.S. Attorney Doug Jones (D) in the December 12 special election.
This report is based partly on an original press statement by BCA Vice President Nancy Wall Hewston.
